Apparatus for the purification of water or other hygienic purposes.



Patented Apr. I6, I90l.

JL m. A. LAc MME. APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF WATER OR OTHER HYGIENIC PURPOSES.

(Application filed July 13, 1900.) a H 0 i i a d a i J #NVENT R Y BY ATTORNEY.

lNiTEo STATES ATENT EP .llirik .\I. A. LACOMh llfi, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VALTER LAUDER, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF WATER OR OTHER HYGIENIC PURPOSES.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 672,229, dated April 16, 1901.

Ayplieation filed July 18,1900. Serial No- 23,428. No modeln To aZZ whom it may 001w. "7b: a switch R and the latter in turn with any Be it known that I, JEAN MARIE AUGUSTE number of battery-cells, as 1 2 3 4, any num- LACOMME, a citizen of the Republic of France, ber of which cells may be utilized through residing at New York, borough of Brooklyn, the switch, and this wire is connected in any 55 5 in the county of KingsandState of New York, suitable manner with any suitable circuithave invented certain new and useful Imcloser E on the electrode by which the curprovements in Apparatus for the Purification rent is to be applied.

of lVater or other Hygienic Purposes, of B is an electric conductor which leads from which the following is a full, clear, and exact a binding-post N of an induction-coil J and 60 1o description. also to the circuit-closer E, said induction The object of my invention is to providea coil being constructed in the ordinary way simple and efficient apparatus by means of and having its primary and secondary coils which potable fiuids, food substances, and respectively connected with the binding-posts the like-may be purified and rendered free K and L. The cells are connected with the 65 from inherent disease-germs, bacteria, and induction-coil by a Wire 0", secured to the the like, and thereby fitted for harmless inbinding-post M, thus completing the circuit trodnction into the human system and their throughtheinduction-coil J when the circuitalimentary condition improved or perfected closer is operated. v or regenerated or revivified. C and D are electric conductors respec- 7o liroadlystated, an electric current has heretively leading from the binding-posts K and tofore been employed in the treatment of some L of the induction-coil into the electrode. fluids at least, and while my invention util- The electrode comprises .a casing of nonizes the electric current for the accomplishconducting material, preferably glass, porcement of its purposes the invention itself conlain, hard rubber, or other substance, made 5 sists in the means or apparatus by which elecas or formed with tubes 11., connected with a tricity may be locally applied for improving socket 0, which socket carries the circuitorcorrecting the pathogenic character of fluid closer E, and this circuit-closer may be, as and solid lfood and other substances. already indicated, of any desired form, such Having thus stated the principle of myinas a push-button. The wires 0 D, prefer- 3 e tion, I will. proceed now to describe some ably of gold,'silver, or platinum, extend oi the various best modes in which I have through the tubes n and are insulated from contemplated applying that principle and each other and project from the ends of the then will particularly point out and distinctly tubes, so as to utilize the substance into which claim the part, improvement, or. combination the electrode is immersed as the agent for 85 5 which I claim as my invention. establishing the circuit between these wires.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating The wires above the electrode may be insumy invention, in the several figures of which lated or covered by theflexible wrapping, as like parts are similarly designated, Figure indicated at 0 but thls wrapping or cover- 1 is a partial section of one form of appaing has been omitted in 3and 5 1n order o 40 ratus, showing one means of supplying an to show or illustrate the conducting-wires. electric current. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of The wires A B from the battery or batteries another form of apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side are for the purpose of exciting an induced elevation of the electrode, showing the applicurrent in the induction-coil J, from which cation of an electric light. Fig. at is a percoil lead the wires 0 D to the electrode, it 95 spective View of aportiou of a four wire appabeing understood that the conducting-wires ratus such as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a A B are solely for the purpose of exciting the partial section of my apparatus equipped for induced current in said 0011 producing sparks. Fig. 6 is a perspective. The tubes n may be perforated laterally at View of part of a holder arranged to combine different altitudes and upon opposite sides at [00 the three forms or electric discharge. various points throughout .tl1 e1r lengths, so

An electric conductor A is connected with as to expose the internal wires C D, and thus establish a series of contact-points through the medium being treated and throughout the length of the electrode in order the more quickly to purify or regenerate or revivify the substance under treatment. Opposite perforations are here shown as out of horizontal alinement, and ordinarily they may so be in order that a larger quantity of liquid or fluid may be utilized for completing the circuit, and thus a larger quantity of said liquid 'or fluid be treated or influenced by the current, and also that all portions of the columnof liquid or fluid may be treated-throughout the depth of the column, which might not be the case were the opposite. perforations in the tubes in the same tal plane.

The socket 0 is solidly mcunted on the perforated non-conducting tube or tubes and itself is made of porcelain or other non-couducting material and forms the handle oreud piece for using the device, and said socket is longitudinally perforated to receive the several conducting-wires.

As already stated, the circuit-closer is handoperated, andfor this purpose may be any simple form of ordinary push-button, so that when released from pressure the circuit will be broken.

As shown in Fig, 2, only the wires (3 D are carried by the electrode, the battery-current being supplied from a distance. In. Fig. 3 four wires are employed, and in this form of the invention double tubes might be employed, in which case the wires 0 D would be led through separate holes in the tubes and be exposed externally, while electric-light wires P and Q would be-led through other separate holes in the tubes and connected with a lamp 7a, which may be arranged at the bottom of the electrode and, if desired, sur-' rounded by a protecting-shield 1', so that with an electrode of this character two effects may be obtained-namely, that of the current taken 01f of the wires 0 D and the heat or the illumination of the electric light. Such a device may be used in wells or other dark places wherein light or heat would be destructive of those forms of life to which such light or heat is noxious.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective the double construction of tubes last described.

It to such an electrode as heretofore described is to be added a sparking apparatus, then a third tube may be joined with the other two, as shown in Fig. 6. Such a combined apparatus may be employed in the treatment of wine, beer, cider, and other beverages, andwhen plunged or immersed in the liquid to be treated the induced electric current will thoroughly permeate the volume of liquid. If the electric light be used, it will increase the temperature of the liquid, and

this to any desired degree, any further increase being provided for by the multiplication of lamps.

Intermittent electr cal sparks may be found to be a useful addition to the ordinary light or heat or other-electric currents, or any two of them, with the result of;improving in a very marked degree the condition of impure or vitiated wines, beers, ciders, and other fluids or beverages. ratus is illustrated in Fig. '5, wherein are used an electrically non-conducting tube at one end of which is a stationary make-and-break contact-piece .1 to which one of the conducting-wires is connected,'and Z is a sliding contact-rod which extends upwardly within the tube a and into the holder or socket 0, where it is provided with a spring '8, which normally tends to draw said rod upwardly, and above the spring and outside of the socket Such a sparking-appathis rod is provided with a button or knob .m. The sliding rod Z is connected with the other conducting-wire. The wires 6 and '12, which are connected, respectively, with the sliding rod Z and the stationary contact-n proceed, respectively, from the batteryI and the sparking-coil S, which coil is also connected in circuit with the battery I. By downward pressure upon the button m the sliding contact rod Z is moved over the stationary contact i member 00, thereby producing a series of sparks, and likewise upon release of pressure upon said button or knob the spring 3 in retracting the sliding contact-rod efl'ectsa'the production of the corresponding series of sparks.

The application of sparks will increase the temperature of a beverage and at the same time oxygenize the same and will increase etfervescenoe in beer and other beverages and.

render them more palatable.

1 do not limit myjiuvention to the source of j electricity, as it may be generated from batteries or taken from wires employed forstreet or other lighting purposes. It is important, however, that such current be employed for the purpose of exciting, an ind uced current in the induction-coil from which the induced current is ledto the electrodes.

It is within the possibilities of my invention to treat fluids in bulk, as in casks, hogsheads, mains, or the like, and also in wells of greater or less depth, and in cisterns, tanks, and other receptacles.

Not only does my invention suffice to sterilize and purifyv water and other potable fluids, but it will also serve to maintain such fluids in or to restore the same to normal condition. Ihave usedmyinvention also to hinder butyric fer'mentation in such substances as butter, cheese, lard, and other fatty and oily substances and to preserve meat and render it tender before cooking and also to oxygenize .or regenerate water which has been injuriously heated or exposed to contamination.

What I claim is- 1. An apparatus for use in the treatment of liquids, consisting of a portable electrodeholder, electric conductors arranged in said holder in position to act as electrodes, means to convey an induced current to said conductors, an electric lamp and spar;.;ing device 3. In an apparatus for use in the treatment I of liquids, an electrode comprising a casing of electrically-non-cond-ucting n'iaterial, perforated longitudinally and supplied with contact-points at its ends, electric conductors leading through-said perforations to said contact-points,- means to make .and break the circuit through said conductors, and means -to expose the conductors in said perforations at various intervals in their lengths so as to make additional electrical contact with the liquid in which the electrode is immersed, substantially as described. v J. M. A. LAOOMME.

Witnesses:

WALTER LAUDER, (J. W. KITT'ERMAN. 

